Sapporo and New Chitose Ski Gear: Store It Before or After the Slopes
Published Last updatedReviewed by Max
Long ski bags are hard work on Hokkaido trains and buses. Silk Crane, a luggage storage service for travelers in Japan, keeps your ski bags in storage whether you land at New Chitose with gear you will not use for a while or finish your ski days with a Sapporo stay ahead, and delivers them where you need them next.
You send skis and snowboards from your hotel front desk or from an airport counter of the delivery company Yamato that accepts ski equipment. Silk Crane takes ordinary suitcases from your hotel front desk or a 7-Eleven.
Three friends, ski days first and Sapporo last
Picture three friends ending a ski week with a longer trip around Japan before flying from New Chitose. They sign up with Silk Crane, then send the packed ski bag and larger suitcases from the hotel front desk, keeping clothes, documents and other essentials for the rest of the trip. Silk Crane keeps the bags in storage and delivers them to a Yamato pickup counter confirmed for their departure airport and terminal.
Arriving at New Chitose with skis you need later
If your ski days start right away, Yamato's airport counter can also send the bag straight to your ski hotel, if the hotel can receive it. If the slopes come later, after Sapporo city days, a trip elsewhere in Japan, or even next winter, send the gear to Silk Crane instead.
After you sign up, Silk Crane gives you the storage address, suite number and sending steps. You hand the ski or snowboard bag to an airport Yamato counter that accepts ski equipment, or to your Sapporo hotel front desk after check-in. The Yamato ski and snowboard cover guide explains Yamato's cover.
When the ski days come, Silk Crane delivers the gear to your hotel or resort, including Niseko, Furano and Tomamu. The hotel, resort and airport delivery guide covers the details.
Sapporo hotel ski room or Silk Crane storage?
For a night or two in Sapporo, ask your hotel whether it can keep ski bags during your stay.
Gear you use every day belongs in your hotel or resort's own ski storage. For a bag you will use again during your stay, the Sapporo Station locker guide covers short-stay options, and the ski storage or resort locker comparison helps you choose.
For the gear you will not touch until a later stop, trip or season, you send it from your hotel front desk or an airport Yamato counter that accepts ski equipment, and Silk Crane delivers it to a later hotel in Japan.
After the slopes: send the gear and enjoy Sapporo
Send from your ski hotel
After you sign up, you hand the packed bag to the hotel front desk and follow the sending steps, keeping the clothes and documents you need in your own bag.
Store it for this trip or next winter
Silk Crane delivers the gear later in this trip, or keeps it in Japan for your next ski season. The monthly and annual ski storage guide compares the two.
Skiing elsewhere in Hokkaido first? The Hokkaido ski resort guide and the Niseko ski storage guide show how storage fits around the resorts.
Getting the gear back for your flight
Silk Crane can deliver the gear to your last hotel or to a Yamato pickup counter at New Chitose. For airport delivery, tell Silk Crane your departure airport and terminal, and Silk Crane confirms the counter.
Yamato currently lists its New Chitose pickup counter on the first floor of the Domestic Terminal, including collection before an international flight. The New Chitose airport counter guide shows the counters.
Questions before you choose
Is this a private-shuttle booking page?
No. Book airport transport with your chosen operator. Silk Crane keeps your luggage and ski gear and delivers it when you need it.
Can I leave skis at New Chitose and collect them later in the day?
No. Silk Crane delivers stored gear to a later hotel in Japan. For a bag you will use again soon, a short-stay locker suits better.
What if I am returning for another winter?
Silk Crane keeps the gear in Japan between seasons and delivers it to your next ski hotel or resort.
Keep planning your trip
Plan the city days after the slopes with the luggage you actually need. Browse the Japan storage guide collection for more ideas. Leaving winter gear in Hokkaido between trips? See the Hokkaido winter sports gear storage page.